WINNING RUN CONTINUES

The Yellows made it 2 out of 2 in the MCCU 2-day competition when they completed an Oxbridge double by defeating Cambridge on the first innings at a bitterly cold Weetwood.

After being put in the home side batted consistently throughout their innings with a number of steady partnerships. Steve Bullen & Billy Root put on 125 for the 2nd wicket – a record for the team against Cambridge – before Root was caught at backward square for 65 with the total on 166. Bullen was the next to go for another fine half-century; hitting a full toss to midwicket when on 99. Painful but expert jug-avoidance once again following his 97 against Lancashire.

No jugs from Bullen

Remarkably in a total of 401 for 9 declared, these two were the only ones to score over 50 – Weston falling one short, with Davis (40) & Rouse (36) also making good contributions and everyone else chipping in. It must be some time – if ever – that the boys have made totals of 400+ in two consecutive innings.

Cambridge had 13 overs to face before close of play, during which the Yellows managed to grab two wickets – Alex Lilley removing Barna-Laue’s off stump with an absolute pearler and Doug Pratt inducing and edge from Wright, the Light Blues closing on 34 for 2.

Harry Ellison must hate Weetwood. In 2013 he was dismissed 3 times in 6 deliveries (one a no ball) & in the BUCS game on Monday faced only 3 balls before falling for another duck. This time though he buried the ghosts by scoring an accomplished 82 before Liam Watkinson’s golden off-spin arm managed to bowl him. The only other resistance came from Ruari Crichard who 69* batting at No.9 and sharing in an 8th wicket stand with Ellison of 79 as Chris Scott’s boys were all out for 209 in 68.1 overs to give the Yellows a win on the first innings.

Bowling honours were shared around with the seamers all putting in a great workload in cold and windy conditions – Lilley (3-47), Watkinson (2-18), Rouse (2-26), Pratt (2-55) & Myers (1-6) sharing the wickets.

With 49 overs left in the day an outright win was a possibility if early wickets fell. Cambridge saw thongs through to the close though losing only 3 wickets for 128 runs, securing 2 further batting points to our extra 1.

Total Points: Leeds Bradford 19, Cambridge 8.

This puts us at the top of the 2-day table after the first couple of rounds of fixtures, 10 points clear of Loughborough & 13 ahead of Cambridge.

Next up – a road trip to Solent for our BUCS game on Monday 4th followed by a BUCS encounter and 2-day game against Cardiff on the Tues, Weds, Thurs.